Pep Guardiola's blunt response to Newcastle United FFP frustrations amid Man City charges

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola refused to entertain a question regarding Newcastle United and their frustrations with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability rules.

Speaking to the media the day after the Magpies released their accounts for the 2022-23 financial year - which revealed a loss of £73.4million after tax but a 39% increase in revenue - Eddie Howe revealed how the situation is preventing him from bolstering his squad during the January transfer.

United currently have 10 senior players unavailable and would like to sign a midfielder as cover for the injured Joelinton and Joe Willock, plus the suspended Sandro Tonali.

“In an ideal world, given the freedom to act we would have brought players in already," said Howe. "But we’re not in that situation as Darren [Eales] alluded to yesterday during the interviews he delivered. FFP is a problem for us and we’re having to navigate around that. That’s the position we’re in. When does it become a problem? It’s already a problem but we’re just trying to manage through it.”

Howe added: “It’s a frustration for everyone connected with us. The owners are very ambitious and they’d like to help and improve the squad at every opportunity they can but the rules and conditions we’re under don’t allow that."

Newcastle CEO Darren Eales, who hosted a Q&A session with the local and national about the accounts, says the club will likely have to sell players in order to create "headroom". That has raised fears either Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak or Sven Botman could be moved at the end of the campaign.

"We've been working under Financial Fair Play restrictions for a long time," Howe continued.

“I don't know if he [Eales] said 'sell a star player', I think that may be words that the media have attached. Selling players is part of every football club's DNA now, I think it has to be with Financial Fair Play rules because we have to generate more income and to sign players, we may have to sell players.

“But it doesn't necessarily mean star players – whatever you mean by that term – but certainly selling players will be something this club will do now for the foreseeable future."

Premier League champions Man City, who Newcastle welcome to St James' Park on Saturday, could soon find out the full implications of breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

Last year, The Citizens were charged with breaking FFP rules around 100 times over a nine-year period, which starts in 2009 and goes on until 2018. It's understood the independent hearing will take place late autumn of this year.

That may partly explain why Guardiola, when asked about Newcastle's FFP frustrations, delivered a blunt response. He said: "I don't have any comment. I have enough problems on my table. I wish him all the best. I don't know the situation as you understand. It's not my business."

Indeed, Everton were found guilty of breaking financial rules and were subsequently handed a 10-point deduction late last year. They have, however, appealed the decision.